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It’s time for Chimezie Metu to be the permanent backup center

No more tinkering, please.
By | 35 Comments | Jan 10, 2023

Jan 9, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Chimezie Metu (7) rebounds the ball during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

From November 5th to December 9th, Chimezie Metu was the go-to backup center for the Sacramento Kings. In that stretch, he never played fewer than 10 minutes in a game. He averaged a meager 6.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.2 blocks per game, but was overall a net positive. He had five games in that stretch where he scored 10 points each. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t horrible, but he started to slip.

December 7th against Milwaukee, Metu finished with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist. December 9th against Cleveland he finished with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. December 11th against the Knicks, Metu finished with 0 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 steal. That was the final straw for Mike Brown, who played Metu in just 5 of the team’s next 12 contests, averaging just 4.5 minutes per game, mostly in garbage time.

Mike Brown spoke to the Sacramento Bee’s Chris Biderman about Metu’s benching, with Brown explaining the reason he made a change in December.

“I thought he relaxed just a little bit,” Kings coach Mike Brown said of Metu.

Brown went back to Metu on Monday, with excellent results. Metu finished Monday’s contest with 11 points, 9 rebounds (including 3 offensive rebounds)and 2 assists. It was a bounce back performance that should cement Metu’s spot in the rotation.

More from Biderman:

“(Metu) just gives us a different look than what Sabonis does, and you kind of want that as your backup,” Brown said. “We hadn’t been really good on either side of the ball, especially with that second unit. So we made some changes.”

Brown said he approached Metu about giving him another chance before Monday’s game, explaining why he took him out of the rotation in the first place and what he needed from him to help answer one of Sacramento’s glaring questions going forward.

Metu seemed to have gotten the message:

“Definitely a learning experience,” Metu said. “I’ve yet to play a full season, so I’m still just trying to find my groove in terms of being able to just be consistent. … Obviously, he took me out of the rotation and let me know, so now I kind of know what to do.”

Beyond last night’s performance, both the eye test and the numbers support continuing with Metu going forward. I mentioned earlier that Metu had 5 performances with 10 points in a game before being benched. He had 11 points last night. In the month in between the Kings had just a single non-Sabonis center score in double digits, and that was when Neemias Queta dropped 10 on the Lakers on December 11th. The Kings went nearly a month without double-digit scoring from a back-up center.

A quick note, with all respect to Queta, he’s simply too raw at this point (and hasn’t played enought. I believe in his potential but he’s not ready yet, so I’m going to focus on the remaining centers from here on out.

While I understand that the back-up center role is about more than just scoring, Metu opens up the second unit in so many way. He’s a cutting and above-the-rim lob threat in a way that Holmes and Len aren’t. With his athleticism, movement, and the ability to (sometimes) hit an open three, Metu also doesn’t clog the paint like Holmes and Len do. And, not to be overly harsh about it, but Holmes in particularly (who has been given a much larger opportunity than Len) has been downright bad in most of his minutes.

The Kings second unit has been a mess over the last month. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we saw that regression align with Metu’s benching.

I would still love to see the Kings bring in an upgrade at the backup center position, but unless Monte McNair makes an impact acquisition, the job should be Chimezie’s.

He’s earned it.

 

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TerzoM
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January 10, 2023 7:25 pm

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Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
January 10, 2023 7:42 pm

I could honestly care less what Metu brings to the offensive side of the court. From what I can tell he’s just parking himself in the dunkers spot to catch lobs at the rim. I’m not seeing any form of offense run through him, let alone having him set solid screens. He’s an athletic rim-runner, and that is about it. He sort of reminds me of a fomer #2 pick currently playing Injured for the Pistons.

What I care more about is what he brings to the defensive side of the court. He was matched up against Mo Wagner for many of his minutes last night, which isn’t saying much. Color me skeptical that he can guard skilled centers or physical big men, which is what would happen if Sabonis were to miss time. Don’t get me wrong, Metu is nice, but he’s more of a 6’9″ PF who can provide you some center minutes in smaller lineups. I still want a better backup to Sabonis.

murraytant
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January 10, 2023 10:01 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Hornets are playing Plumblee and Mark Washington? , a rookie, with Nik Richards buried at #3.
Where’s my pal Jack?? Let’s make a move for him or, instead of Boucher, why not Koloko or Precious Achiewa from Raptors.
Then Metu can play a small ball 5 and play some PF so we can start to smash some people.

Jack
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January 11, 2023 7:21 am
Reply to  murraytant

I like Richards and Koloko. Either one would be fine . I personally like Koloko. He is young brings a lot,especially defense, to the table.

Jack
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January 11, 2023 11:28 am
Reply to  murraytant

Trade either Metu or Lyles plus second for Christian Koloko.

ArcoThunder
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January 11, 2023 1:03 am
Reply to  Adamsite

No one could fill the void of Sabonis if he goes down. personally, just going off my gut… I wouldn’t want Metu thrown into the starters position if Sabonis did have to miss some games. I’d prefer Len as the starter with Metu as his backup. The distribution of minutes would change a lot with Metu getting more minutes than he was when Sabonis plays.

another better back up center would be nice. I can’t help myself here. What’s Kosta Kufos up to these days. Not sure if Father Time has caught up to him but he’s still pretty young and would seemingly be a good fit as a back up to Sabonis if his game is the same as it used to be.

😬

ArcoThunder
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January 11, 2023 1:17 am
Reply to  ArcoThunder

Looked it up, Kosta is playing for the London Lions and seems to be putting up decent stats. Just say’n.

The last game where I can see his stats he had a double double in 24 minutes with 2 assists.

who says no?

another homer option would be Cousins. 😬

Last edited 1 year ago by ArcoThunder
ArcoThunder
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January 11, 2023 1:39 am
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BeTheBall
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January 10, 2023 7:45 pm

Considering the other options are Holmes and Len, I’d be happy agree to it only of Metu promises to not take anymore 3s.

RowJimmy
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January 10, 2023 10:40 pm
Reply to  BeTheBall

This

Jack
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January 11, 2023 9:36 am
Reply to  BeTheBall

Remember when he it a three to win the game? Fox with the assist. If he is open as long as he doesn’t chuck I’m fine.

Kosta
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January 10, 2023 8:50 pm

The best follow up is

Chimezie Metu
Electric Boogaloo

comment image
(R.I.P. Shabba Doo)

Have been hoping he would get back into the rotation for awhile. I think Monk works best when he has targets to playmake with.

Last edited 1 year ago by Kosta
AnybodyButBagley
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January 10, 2023 10:01 pm

Sad that this is an actual thing to discuss. Four bigs on the roster and who knows how many in the universe but the KAnGz fans have to pick Metu.

RowJimmy
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January 10, 2023 10:46 pm

Don’t have to but get to. At least he ain’t Bagley. Saw where Holmes and Davis could get us Plumlee but not sure why Charlotte would go for that. I would and move to a cutting 4

outrider
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January 10, 2023 10:50 pm

How about Lyles as a small ball second unit guy at 5 when DS needs a break? I think he’s smart enough and skilled enough to pull it off.

eddie41
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January 11, 2023 10:21 am
Reply to  outrider

play them together

SelecaoKOJ
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January 10, 2023 11:40 pm

Eh… Metu probably wouldn’t get much time on a playoff team. Really. Isn’t a logical choice at 6’9. He might fare ok against the likes of the Rockets or Spurs. But, when it comes to big boy teams. Metu has very little chance of succeeding. He will easily get pushed around by real 5’s with heft.

Team needs a real big. There should be plenty of bargain basement centers come deadline.

In addition, a one game sample size against a lottery team, albeit young, is not a good barometer.

I would role with Lyles at the 5.

SmallBallReject
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January 11, 2023 12:36 am
Reply to  SelecaoKOJ

I am not particulaly for Metu or against Lyles (both serviceable back-up 4/5s imv) but since your main argument against Metu seems to be height and they are both listed at 6’9″, … Focusing on big centers, what has happened to Alex Len? It seems he misseda lot of games, had one start when Sabonis was out, … Has he been injured, sick, …?

ArcoThunder
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January 11, 2023 1:08 am

It’s a great question. He probably couldn’t/wouldn’t answer honestly but I wonder why Mike brown hasn’t given Alex Len a shot. Holmes gets 2 extended chances, Metu gets 2 extended chances, Queta even gets one extended chance. Len, gets zero chances to claim the spot.

I find it particularly odd because Len is a good rebounder, can spread the floor some and sets good screens for hand off’s. That’s a good chunk of things Sabonis does that he’s pretty good at too.

Last edited 1 year ago by ArcoThunder
rockbottom
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January 11, 2023 7:39 am
Reply to  Greg

Lyles is bigger, stronger and better . There is that .

ArcoThunder
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January 11, 2023 12:55 am

I agree with the words written in this article. Unless a trade is made that gives us another option to try there I want and fully expect Metu to retain the role as backup Center the rest of the season.

Last edited 1 year ago by ArcoThunder
andy_sims
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January 11, 2023 9:19 am
Reply to  ArcoThunder

Even inflammatory ones like “the?”

ajonez81
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January 11, 2023 7:42 am

Yeah having Holmes give at least 2 to 3 pump fakes and pivots everytime before going up to shoot isn’t working lol. I need more Mezi alley-oops.

eddie41
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January 11, 2023 8:08 am

#metu

BabalooMagoo
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January 11, 2023 9:07 am

Sorry, but as much as I like both Metu & Lyles, neither is a 5. Both are undersized to play the 5 and while they are “hustle” guys and had good games against Orlando (I was there) they are not a long term answer to our lack of depth at the 5. Count me in the camp of trying to trade Holmes (as much as I like him) and, say; Davis for maybe a Plumlee type player.

Putthegundown
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January 11, 2023 9:35 am

So in other words nothing is changing and we will get destroyed by bigger teams. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Rojoking
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January 11, 2023 9:52 am

Is Cousins eligible for a 10 day contract?

Rojoking
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January 11, 2023 9:54 am
Reply to  Rojoking

He use to be able to pass, rebound, spread the floor, block shots and take charges

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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January 11, 2023 10:20 am

I’m down.

Jman1949
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January 11, 2023 10:25 am

comment image&ct=g

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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January 11, 2023 3:39 pm
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This is one of my favorite episodes. When George turns his hat backwards during this conversation I immediately start dying.

Kingsguru21
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January 11, 2023 11:40 am

I would still love to see the Kings bring in an upgrade at the backup center position, but unless Monte McNair makes an impact acquisition, the job should be Chimezie’s.

He’s earned it.

This is well put. Really agree since really it’s not just the defense of the 2nd unit over the last month that’s struggled but the offense, too. It’s rather unfortunate, but if you can get back that mojo with Mezie and be a neutral unit, your 1st unit will win you games more often than not.

JoeMama
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January 11, 2023 2:05 pm

An undersized 5 that averaged 6 points and 3 rebounds in his best month of the season should be the permanent backup center? That’s just looking at him offensively, i won’t even start on the defense.

Mike120
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January 11, 2023 2:24 pm

I agree. Stick with Metu as long as he plays with smart intensity. I have zero confidence when I see Holmes or Len on the floor.

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